The Queen was there to open the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, a national center for children that was launched to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the birth of the charity’s founder, Thomas Coram.

As part of her visit, the Queen was introduced to a number of children who had benefited from the charity, including 9-year-old Nathan Grant.

Toby Melville – WPA Pool / Getty ImagesNine-year-old Nathan Grant (center) was introduced to the Queen as part of her visit to Coram.

The young boy found the encounter a bit too overwhelming, though, and dropped to his knees before heading for the exit.

Toby Melville – WPA Pool / Getty ImagesGrant crawled away.

“That’s his version of a bow,” the boy’s mother, Carrie Grant, who is a former British-TV presenter, said as the room erupted in laughter. Grant then shouted, “Bye,” to the crowd from an adjacent room.

You can watch the adorable footage of Grant making his escape below.

The Queen was greeted somewhat less nervously by 102-year-old Edward Newton, who is the oldest surviving pupil of the Foundling Hospital.

Newton had had experience with the royals in the past, though – he recalled meeting King George on his visit to the hospital in 1926, saying, “I was a little tot.”

The author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who was one of the first Coram fellows, said, “I just think it’s a wonderful organisation, and it’s very much to do with helping children now in new ways.”